India U19 vs Nepal U19: Aaryavir Sehwag's 70 seals 10-wicket win

India began their ACC Men's U19 Asia Cup 2026 campaign with a 10-wicket win over Nepal at Al Amerat in Oman on Friday, 6 November 2026. Nepal were bowled out for 128 in 42.3 overs, with Ishan Sood taking three wickets, and India reached the target without losing a wicket in 19.1 overs. Opener Aaryavir Sehwag made an unbeaten 70 off 52 balls, and captain Lakshya Raichandani was not out on 53.

The Under-19 Asia Cup, run by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), is one of the main international tests for India's junior cricketers this season, and a strong tournament helps young players get noticed by selectors. A win this large in the opening game also matters for the group table: in a short tournament where only the top teams reach the semi-finals, net run rate can decide close groups, and finishing a 50-over chase in under 20 overs gives India a strong start on that count.

The match was a good day for both halves of the team. Nepal were never allowed to build an innings of any length, and Sood's three wickets led a disciplined bowling effort. With the bat, Sehwag and Raichandani shared an unbroken opening stand that took the game away inside 20 overs, scoring at a pace usually seen in T20 cricket.

For Nepal, the heavy defeat leaves them needing results in their remaining group games, including against Pakistan on 10 November, to keep semi-final hopes alive.

The tournament is short and tightly packed. All four Group A teams play each other once over five days in Oman, the semi-finals are listed for Thursday, 12 November, and the final for Saturday, 14 November. That leaves almost no time for a team to recover from a bad day, which is why a large opening win counts for more than two points. Schedule previews have picked out the India-Pakistan match on 8 November as the biggest attraction of the group stage.

Peepals calculation: India scored 129 in 19.1 overs, or 115 balls, a run rate of about 6.73 an over (129 ÷ 115 × 6). Nepal scored 128 in 42.3 overs, or 255 balls, about 3.01 an over (128 ÷ 255 × 6). India finished with 185 balls, or 30.5 overs, to spare (300 − 115). Sehwag's 70 off 52 balls is a strike rate of about 135 (70 ÷ 52 × 100), and the two unbeaten batters scored 123 of India's 129 runs between them, the rest coming from extras. Our calculation from the reported figures.

Short-term: India go into Sunday's game against Pakistan with two points and a strong net run rate, which gives them some cushion in a four-team group.

Long-term: Performances in tournaments like this are how junior cricketers build a record that selectors at state and national level can see.

Who is affected: India's Under-19 players and selectors, Nepal's junior cricket programme, and fans following the rivalry fixture with Pakistan.

What to watch next: India U19 vs Pakistan U19 on Sunday, 8 November, and India vs the UAE on Tuesday, 10 November, with the semi-finals on 12 November.

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